Bag dispensing container



Oct. 25, 1966 E. KUGLl-:R

BAG DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Aug. l0, 1965 l@ F/ g..Z

2 my L a R. au Z a M na m u I. 7 t' N 6 M @F l x w uu" H x 1 N Y HHN," H r l 4 l. Hh nnrrnlrUwnvmN 4 w w Il n l lllllillnal M B mc, mi Y r um Ul 2r l ww n m I WM wv o w H N .w f, .M1 1 f i f i d w. a 6 n US 5 1 l l .m c M F F m i a a q v M 4a 7 4 l m -nlll United States Patent C) 3,281,056l BAG DISPENSING `CONTAINER Emanuel Kugler, 124 Richmond-Place, Lawrence, Long Island, N .Y. Filed Aug. 10, 1965,-Ser. N o.: 47 8,671 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention is concerned generlally withthe'. packaging art; and more specifically it vis concernedl with a flexible package which is utilized primarily to store, contain and dispense a plurality of individual exible'bags.

Flexible packages as 'for use inthe yhome'or'the like are coming'into common usage.` Such packages are often stored in flat alignmentin' a rigid'container; Thisof course, presents many and 4vvaried problems.

For example, a stack of flexible sandwich bagsor the like, when stored within a rigid container, will tendvfto remain rmly in place so long as the rigid container remains full. As soon as a portion of'the exible bags` are removed from the rigid container, the remaining sandwich or the like will tend to move 'thereabout in a random fashion, dest-roying their effectiveness for the con-r sumer. it 'prohibits flexible packages, when stored in a rigid container, from being fastened to a wall' or a rack, or the like, in that the flexible packages will tend to then fall' to rthe bottom of the package, presenting a disorderly appearance.

There have been prior attempts to provide an o-uter flexible package for sandwich bags or the like. Such prior art attempts have not been successful. Usually the outer flexible package is destroyed whenthe package is first opened, thereby preventing its effect-ive use thereafter. Additionally, more complicated cute-r ilexiblepackages, such as those incorporating a snap closure, although capable of reuse, make-difficult the removal of the flexible packages stored therewithin.

This disadvantage is especiallysignic'antin that -It is a cardinal object of this invention, therefore, to I provide an outer exible package lfor bags to be stored therewithin, as for example, sandwich bags andthe like for the home consumer.

Another prim-ary object of this invention isthe provision of a exible container as described that-willfb'eefiicient and that will be economical to mass produce.

Yet another function and purpose of this invention is to provide `an outer flexible package as above-described, with an easy opening access larrangement whereby one or more of the bags stored therewit-hin may be removedwithout disturbing the remainder of the said bags.

An ancillary object and accomplishment of fthe invention described herein is theprovision of a exible outer package for sandwich bags or the likethat will prevent the inadvertent or spontaneous removal of oner or more of the bags therewithin prior to sale. tov the ultimate' consumer.

Yet another function and object hereof isthe provision of means to automatically indicate to the consumer that there are only a fewl inner bags remaining firrthe package, and that it is, therefore' time to purchase an additional package.

With the aboveobjects-inJview, the invention consists of the following specific` arrangement ofparts as set forth in detail inthe.following lspecification andreferred to in the attachedV drawing, in-vwhich:

BIG. lis a front elevational view of one embodiment of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a section-al elevational view taken substantially vertically through the center of the device illustrated in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a view on a reduced vscale correspondingto FIG. 1 showing one of the inner sandwich containers or the like being removed.

3,281,056 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 FIGL- 4 is an'end elevational view of a stack of bags fabricated according to one embodiment of this invention prior to filling and sealing.

FIG; 5 is a view corresponding to FIG.` 4 but showing an alterna-tel embodiment of this invention.

FIG; 6V is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 but showing -another alternate embodiment -of this invention.

Referring toA the drawings and especially to FIIGSQ 1 and 2 thereof, there is a shown a typical working embodiment of this invention.

1in ythe .illustrated embodiment, the package consists of Vay packageportion and a'header or hang `portion `11. The header porti-on 11 consists of a passage 11a and may containi av reinforcing .strip 12m or the like, if desired. The reinforcing stripV 12a insures that the package is maintained ina attened and non-wrinkled condition even when the package is supported asfrom Va rack or `the like (not illustrated). In an optional embodiment'of the invention a center grommet 45 is positioned l,at a suitable position along-theh'eaderposition 11 of the package 10. The `grommet 45 or other reinforcing structure will serve to *prevent the bag'fnom being prematurely tornA although suspended from a rack.

The' major portion ofthe container 10.will consist of overlying 'front 42 and rear 43 walls heat sealed together along their edges as will be explained in detail hereinafter.' A'rstheat seal line 22will serve to separate the bodyportion of the package lll'fnom the header passage11. The front and backwalls 42, 43will further'be sealed together at the-ir opp-osite verticaledges 24 and Z5 as illustrated leavin-gonly the bottom of the container open' for llingas will be set forth.

Referring now'to FIG. 4 of thedrawings, `the use of the container 10 is illustra-ted.

It maybe seen that the lower wall 43 of thepackage 10 is somewhatlonger than the opposite wall 42 thereby providingan'extending'ii'ap 12'." p

Referring again to FIG.V 4, the bags 70 will be stacked in uniform and vertical alignment so that a projecting prong 19 will extend through each-of a set of laligned apertures 18ath1ough the lips 18. Thus, the prongs 19 serve to insurethat the stack of `bags 10 are heldtogether until ready for use and lled.

Again, as will beobserved -in FIG. 4, a nozzle 20 for air or the like is suitably provided to blow intothe uppermost bag,70. This will billow open the said top bag70 preparing `the same for filling. The operator willthen insert a predetermined number of sandwich bags or the like within the interior of the package 10 between the walls 42 and '43'. as seen in FIG. 2. After the'bags are securely inserted therewithin, a heat seal knife or the like will descend through theopposite walls 42and 43 Atogether'withthe inverted'portion 12`extending from one ofthe walls 43. The heat seal knife in this embodiment will vseal together the three layers 42, 43 and Y12 and sever the lower and lipV portions, thereby forming a fully enclosed package.

Referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, one or more lines yof perforations'16 are provided about three Vsides ofthe invertedfportion `12; The top side 12b of inverted portion 12,1`isalreadyopen.` Thus, when desired, for ultimatef.use,"th'e.inverted portion 12 may be grasped at the top edge :12b yand `pulled faway from the remainder of the package andtornsalongthe multipleslines of perforations.

As will: bezseeniin FIG. 3. vand in FIG. l, across line of perforations or other weakened tear linesr60 Vand 61 'are provided -inrthevvall of thepackage 42dir`ectly under'the inverted-portion :12: Thecrosslines 60 and 61 are for the-Iquickfremovalof thexplurality ofJsandwich-bags 70 or the like stored within. However, access to the cross weakened lines 60 and 61 may not be gained until the inverted portion 12 overlying the lines 60 and 61 are re- An alternate embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 5.

That embodiment of the invention is substantially similar to that described above, except the inverted lip portion 12d is bent under and, therefore, lies between walls 42a and 43a. Thus, the inverted portion 12d prevents the removal of bags from within the interior of the container 10a even after the weakened lines 60 and 61 are perforated, and until the inverted portion 12d is similarly torn off along lines of perforations and removed through the cross sealed openings 40. As the inverted lip portion 12d will usually have extensive advertising matter thereon, it will be obvious to a storekeeper or the like if the package is prematurely opened.

Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 6 of the drawin-gs. In this embodiment, the inverted lip portion 12e is replaced by a separate strip overlying oneV of the walls 42b in such a manner as to cover the provided tear lines 60 and 61. It will be observed that this will make unnecessary the provision of a line of perforations at the bottom of the attachment of the strip 12e as the said strip 12e is not joined to either of the opposite walls 4211 or 43b. Additionally, in this embodiment of the invention the said strip 12e is not integrally joined to the opposite edges of the said bag 10b. Alayer of prepared material such as shellac or the like is imprinted on the underside of the strip 12e in the area where the said 'strip 12e is eventually to be severed and sealed. The resulting heat seal between the' strip 12e and the edges of the walls 42b and 43b is not strong and is relatively easy to tear or destroy.

Thus, this embodiment of the invention is as described hereinabove.

The strip 12e will overlie the weakened lines 60 and 61 and will preventthe premature removal of the exible packages 70 storedwithin prior to the tearing ofI of the said strip 12e. The said strip 12e may be relatively easily torn olf in view of the weakened heatseal lines at their point of juncture with the side edges of the bag as described. l

As was mentioned heretofore, in all cases, the lip portion of the bag overlying the weakened lines will contain suitable advertising matter, premium information, or instructions thereof so that should the said strip be prematurely removed, vthe ultimate consumer will be warned that one or more of the flexible packages stored therewithin may be missing.

Additionally, as demonstrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, a suitable marking, possibly in the form of a bullseye 41 may be provided at the back surface 43 of the package 10, or imprinted on a cardboard reinforcing strip inserted therewith. As the flexible sandwich bags 70 to be stored therewithin are usually somewhat transparent, the appearance of the bullseye bags or other marking may be utilized as a warning that enough of the stored bags within have been removed to warrant purchase of a new and rerigid containers forthis purpose hasV been found to be entirely unsatisfactory. This is because the rigid outer containers will not collapse as the stored bags are removed and thus will permit the stored bags to fall into disarrangement after some of the said bags are utilized.

In the linstant invention, however, the mere weight of the package will tend to collapse the opposite Walls 42 and 43 against the bag 70 stored therewithin, no matter how many of the said bags 70 have been removed. Thus, the

bags 70 will remain in alignment, which is both pleasing and uniform, until all of the said bags 70 have been utilized for their desired purpose.

Still further the use of the various embodiments of the 4inverted strip of material or the separate band overlying the weakened lines for removal of the interior bags, should not be overlooked. This inverted or separate portion of material can easily be utilized for special messages, advertising, premium information, and the like in addition to its designated use as a safety protector for the interior of the package. y I

While .there are above described but a limited number of embodiments of t-he product of this invention, it is to be realized that still other embodiments may be possible within theV scope thereof. For example, additional materials may be utilized and many techniques may be utilized for the desired heat sealing and severing purposes, as well as to retain the formed outer packagesltl in their aligned relationship. Still further, various techniques may be utilized to insure that the strip covering the tear lines may be easily removed, when desired.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A storing and dispensing package, comprising;

(a) front and rear overlying walls of ilexble material joined together at their marginal edges,

(b) a heat seal line joining said overlying walls adjacent one of said marginal edges forming an interior .passage between said heat seal line and said marginal edge,

(c) and a central area of said -front wall provided with lines of perforations whereby said front wall may be torn open at said central area,

(d) and a band of flexible material overlying said side of said front wall away from said rear wall covering said central area of said front wall provided with perforations,

(e) said band being joined to at least two of said marginal edges along perforated lines, whereby said band may be torn from said front wall along said line of perforations when said package is to be opened.

2. A storing and dispensing package as set forth in claim 1 wherein the marginal edge of said walls opposite said interior passage is open in the initially manufactured position for ease of filling.

3. A storing and dispensing package as set forth in claim 1 wherein said front wall perforations are in the form vof a pair of crossed lines.

References Cited by the Examiner Lowry 206-57 THERON E. CONDON, Prz'maryvExantner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.` 

1. A STORING AND DISPENSING PACKAGE, COMPRISING; (A) FRONT AND REAR OVERLYING WALLS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL JOINED TOGETHER AT THEIR MARGINAL EDGES, (B) A HEAT SEAL LINE JOINING SAID OVERLYING WALLS ADJACENT ONE OF SAID MARGINAL EDGES FORMING AN INTERIOR PASSAGE BETWEEN SAID HEAT SEAL LINE AND SAID MARGINAL EDGE, (C) AND A CENTRAL AREA OF SAID FRONT WALL PROVIDED WITH LINES OF PERFORATIONS WHEREBY SAID FRONT WALL MAY BE TORN OPEN AT SAID CENTRAL AREA, (D) AND A BAND OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL OVERLYING SAID SIDE OF SAID FRONT WALL AWAY FROM SAID REAR WALL CONVERING SAID CENTRAL AREA OF SAID FRONT WALL PROVIDED WITH PERFORATIONS, (E) SAID BAND BEING JOINED TO AT LEAST TWO OF SAID MARGINAL EDGES ALONG PERFORATED LINES, WHEREBY SAID BAND MAY BE TORN FROM SAID FRONT WALL ALONG SAID LINE OF PERFORATIONS WHEN SAID PACKAGE IS TO BE OPENED. 